I’ll never forget a quote from one of the leaders I was interviewing about a new anti-violence program that was just starting in Oakland. I was working for a nonprofit organization and my job was to tell a story about the program and why it was important to the community. The leader said: “Someone in the community is thinking about how they’re going to be able to see their neighborhood change and they’re looking for someone to answer their prayers. You and I can be that answer.”
If you’re an entrepreneur or changemaker who is committed to advancing racial equity and inclusion, you know you have an answer for some of our society’s toughest social issues. Once you’re ready to share that message with your community, you know you have the power to build a movement that can change people’s lives. How do I know that? Because I’ve seen it happen firsthand.
I grew up inspired by my parents’ stories from the ‘70s, so I’ve always believed in the power of fighting for social justice. I quickly became an advocate for racial equity and inclusion (before the term was coined) as a student at UC Berkeley. I was very active in organizing the black student community and, because of the harmful environment created by Prop. 209, I developed strong relationships with a variety of underrepresented communities to make sure that all people of color were properly represented on campus.
My passion for community activism inspired me to become a journalist—first for the student newspaper, then for a variety of community newspapers and eventually for the Washington Post. I finished my journalism career running an award-winning hyperlocal news website under a Silicon Valley startup.
Thankfully, my storytelling career and community activism didn’t end there. An opportunity came up to work with a nonprofit and help them use storytelling to promote a statewide ballot initiative. That experience led to another career as a well-respected digital communications manager in the nonprofit industry. Now, I’m offering the same experience to any business or organization that shares the same commitment to advancing racial equity and social justice.
— Martin, Founder & Chief Content Creator, Community Symbol
“Someone in the community is thinking about how they’re going to be able to see their neighborhood change and they’re looking for someone to answer their prayers. You and I can be that answer.”
What I Believe
There has never been a more relevant time to talk about racial equity and social justice.
Because of recent social movements that have pushed this issue into the mainstream, everyone—from nonprofits to foundations to Fortune 500 companies—is looking to show that it’s good for business and better for society when we enable people of color to succeed and different perspectives to be heard.
But just because you have a desire to tackle some of society’s toughest social issues doesn’t mean you always know the best way to show the impact you’re making.
That’s where I come in.
What I Do
With my social justice-focused digital communications framework, I help entrepreneurs and changemakers like you who are advancing racial equity and inclusion by stepping in as your digital communications manager.
In an era where emotions can run high and views are often divided, it’s important to engage people’s empathy in order to see social change happen effectively. So I specialize in creating content in the places where you will get the most bang for your buck: on your website, on your social media pages and with your blog.
My expertise and my C.O.M.M.U.N.I.T.Y. framework help entrepreneurs and changemakers accomplish the following goals: